Older Americans may show up in greater numbers on Election Day because there's more at stake: Medicare and Social Security

August 31, 2012

BOHEMIA, NY, Aug 31 - "The smart money says that seniors, not young women, will determine who will be the next president of the United States," according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens.

"We've got more skin in the game and we are sure to turn out in at least the same numbers as we did in 2010 when seniors accounted for nearly a quarter of the votes cast. In fact, many more of us may show up at the polls on November 6 because there's more at stake, including our Medicare coverage and our Social Security benefits," Weber said.

However, he cautioned senior voters to do their homework before casting their ballots. "Don't be fooled by the scary campaign ads. Most of all, consider the pure and simple fact that both Medicare and Social Security outlays are growing at an alarming and unsustainable rate. Then ask yourself: Is Obamacare the solution or do we need realistic reform that will preserve these programs for us and for our children and grandchildren?"

The AMAC chief also reminded older Americans that Medicare and Social Security are not entitlement programs like Welfare and Food Stamps.

He described Medicare as a health insurance policy for which eligible older Americans have paid real premiums all the working days of their lives. And, he said, Social Security is a type of self-funded retirement program in which we have invested our own money, deducted every payday from our salaries and wages.

Weber concluded: "I, for one, will opt for reform over Obamacare. Its official name is the Affordable Care Act, but it is not affordable and it was crafted in secret to diminish the value our paid up Medicare policies to pay for free-for-all entitlements.

"I also choose sensible changes to the way our children and grandchildren pay for and receive Social Security. Specifically, in this day and age when people are living longer and working longer, it is not an onerous modification to up the age of eligibility; nor is it a radical notion to allow those who pay into the Social Security fund to opt for an independent Social Security IRA that lets citizens set up their own supplementary retirement accounts."